Abstract: The object of this research is the consolidated concept of the motive of crime, as well as important from the perspective of multifaceted motivational concepts psychological components that determine its structure, such as the personal inner motive and its source, relevant needs and criminal way for their fulfillments, attribute of conscious and subconscious in the criminal motive. The article also examines the system of the described psychological components and their correlation in formation of definition of the concept of motive of crime designated for assistance in identification of such psychological institution, analysis and consideration in everyday activity by the experts of psychologically oriented applied disciplines. Systematic review of literature, existing theories and concepts dedicated to the problems of motivation of criminal behavior, utilization of definitions and concepts allowed solving the tasks set in this research. The author substantiates the use of such components as intrapersonal motive, needs, and important attributes; argues the importance of criminal ways of fulfilling the needs that allows classifying the motive of crime as a specific pattern of human behavior. Special attention is given to the factors that complement the dominant signs of the motive of crime with the attribute of subconscious. The author formulates the definition of the motive of crime that includes broadened motivational components, and simultaneously has specific features and clear boundaries.